Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
—Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
Have you ever stopped to think about your thoughts?
“Let’s face it,” Billy Graham wrote. “In the course of a day, all sorts of thoughts lodge themselves in our minds—some good, some not so good. Those thoughts can, in turn, give birth to all sorts of worries and anxieties; they may even lead us to do things that are wrong or destructive.”
The Bible says Christians have the ability to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). In other words, your thoughts don’t have to be random, and they don’t have to control you. With practice and God’s help, you can control your thoughts.
BGEA’s “Summer Soul Refresher” will focus on what to think about in order to renew your mind and reinvigorate your relationship with God—or get to know Him for the first time. This week, it’s time to focus on “whatever is true.”
Want a quick introduction on Biblical truth? Billy Graham wrote:
“Ours is an age of philosophical uncertainty, and we no longer know what we believe. We stand uncommitted. Everywhere I go, I ask students, “What is controlling you?” When I was a student, I had to face Christ. Who was He? He had made the astounding claim, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” I wrestled with the inescapable fact that either Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be, or He was the biggest liar, fraud, and charlatan in history. Which was it? Buddha said toward the end of his life, “I am still searching for the truth.” But here was Jesus who appeared and said, “I am the embodiment of all truth. All truth is centered in me.”
Billy Graham once said, “You must know the truth in order to be free.”
>> Watch his sermon ‘Truth and Freedom’ for more.
Do you struggle with anxious and worrisome thoughts?
>> Pray and ask God to help you focus on the truth. You may find many of the things you worry about aren’t true—they’re hypothetical scenarios that never become reality. Or maybe you focus on things that are true but not helpful, like certain news headlines or social media posts. Ask God each day—or even many times throughout the day—to help you fill your mind with the hope, joy and peace that comes from focusing on His truth.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Discover this truth for yourself.